Disk-engine.



J. M. K. PENNINK.

DISK ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY3. 1914.

Patented May 9, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET lsw I J. M. K. PENNINK.

DISK ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3. 1914.

Patented May 9, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Jo'HAN MATHIAS KAREL PENNINK, or AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, ASSIGNOR ToSIEMENS & HALSKE, A. G., or SIEMENSSTADT, NEAR BERLIN, GERMANY, A con.-

PORATION OF GERMANY.

DISK-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1916.

Application filed July 3, 1914. Serial N 0. 848,999.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

I Be it known that I, JOHAN MATHIAS KAREI. PENNINK, a subject of theQueen of the Netherlands and residing at Amsterdam, Netherlands, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Disk-Engines, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to disk-engines of the type comprising a crank-diskoperatively connected to a disk carried by a ball in.the middle thereofand a primary object is to provide an improved engine of this typeadapted to be employed as a motor, pump or meter, or as a machine forcompressing gaseous or fluid media.

Known disk-engines comprising a crankdi'sk operatively connected to arolling disk having a small ball in the middle thereof and a pin forguiding the disk and transmitting its motion have various defectsattached to them. The pin of the ball frequently broke and fractures ofthe disk, gen erally made of ebonite, frequently occurred at the placewhere it had a radial incision and embraced the partition in the workingor metering chamber. Further, the accuracy of known water-meters of thistype soon diminished in consequence of the wear of the pin of the balland owing to the wear of the guiding cones, because the rolling diskceased to contact properly with the periphery of the working chamber andthe measuring spaces were no longer kept tight.

According to my invention I increase the strength of the ball and disk,care being taken that the weight of these parts is not too great, inorder to enable the same to float in water if necessary.

In known disk-engines of the type described the rolling disk isdisplaced irregu larly relatively to its conical guiding surfaces whenthe engine is running, and another object of my invention is to causethe -displacement of the disk to be as regular as possible.

Another object is to provide a materially better joint between therolling disk and the cones than in known disk-engines of the typedescribed.

Further objects are to provide a disk-engine of the type described ofgreat stability adapted for measuring large quantities of a liquidmedium and to provide improved means for lubricating the crank-disk.

Another object is to provide an improved joint between the ball in themiddle of the rolling disk and the partition extending in the Workingchamber into a recess or slot in the disk carried by the ball.

To these and other ends described hereinafter my invention consists inthe construction, arrangement and combination of parts describedhereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

Several illustrative embodiments of the invention in the form ofwater-meters are represented by way of example in the ac companyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical section taken on the bent lineIII in Fig. 2 showing a small Water-meter, and Fig. 2 is a top plan viewof the meter after the upper part thereof has been removed; Fig. 3 is avertical section showing a modified form of meter comprising a tootheddisk, and Fig. 4 is a like view showing part of another form of metercomprising a modified toothed disk; Fig. 5 is a development of thecylindrical section taken on the line III-IV in Fig. 3, Fig. 6 shows theball and disk according to Fig. 3, partly in elevation and partly insection, Fig. 7 shows the same parts according to Fig. 4, and Fig. 7shows the same parts according to another form of the teeth on the disk;Fig. 8 is a vertical section of a larger type of Water-meter, Fig. 9 isa part section taken on the line V VI in Fig. 8; Figs. 10 and 11 showtwo different forms of the joint between the working chamber and thecrankdisk and, Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the lower part of amodified form of watermeter having a toothed disk and comprising asecond partition arranged diametrally opposite the customary partition.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 and 2, this form of my improved disk-engineor watermeter comprises a ball 1 which is hollow and is made of metal,6. 9. copper or brass, and has a larger diameter than was customaryheretofore. The disk 2, which may also be hollow, is preferably made oftwo halves in the upper part 7 of the housing of the meter with thatside of the ball 1 which faces the same, and the part of the housingcontaining the crank-disk is packed by suitable means between the ball 4and the part 7. The crank-disk 6 is provided with several recesses 5.Such a crank-disk 6 which is mounted on the driving shaft 8 for thecounting mechanism may be provided in duplicate, 2'. 6. one may beprovided below the ball 1 in the lower part 9 of the housing if desired.As seen at the left-hand of these figures, a radial partition 11 isprovided in the working chamber 10 of the housing 7, 9 extending up tothe face of the ball 1. This partition is embraced by the disk 2 whichis recessed or slotted radially at this place, as clearly shown in Fig.2, but the disk does not contact with the partition. Diametrallyopposite the middle of the recess or slot 12 in the disk 2 a pin 13 isfastened to the disk, and its projecting end takes into a groove 14which runs parallel to the plane of the drawing in Fig. 1 in the housing7, 9. The disk 2 can thus rotate about the pin 13 and as it is clampedneither diametrally nor axially, it can roll freely and execute anoscillatory movement. In this manner contact of the disk 2 with thepartition wall 11 and, consequently, wear of these two parts isprevented.

The top 15 and bottom 16 of the housing 7, 9, built up of more than twoparts if desired, are conical and limit the oscillation of the disk 2upward and downward. When the disk is of large diameter packing a ispreferably provided for forming a tight joint between the crank-disk 6and the metering chamber; additional packing b may be provided in thelower part 9 of the housing if desired.

The inlet 0 and the outlet (1 open into the working chamber 10 in thehousing at the two sides of the partition 11. Assuming that the disk 2is located in the position shown in Fig. 1, so that it bears on theright-hand against the upper cone 15 and on the left-hand against thelower cone 16, the inlet 0 Will be open and a rolling motion about thetwo cones will be imparted to the disk by the inflowing current ofwater. As the periphery of the disk is always longer than the averagelength of the periphery of the cone, at each revolution a relativedisplacement of the two parts takes place. During the rolling in thefirst quadrant counting from the wall 11 the displacement ofthe diskincreases from zero to a maximum, in the second quadrant it diminishesto zero, and in the third and fourth quadrants the same play isrepeated. The points of the disk located in the line passing through theguide pin 13 and the middle' of the wall 11 move in one vertical planeand have an oscillatory movement therein, and points located in lines atright angles thereto describe a closed path having 'the form of an 8.

As regards the movement of the disk there is of course no differencebetween forward and backward, this being an advantage which makes itselffelt particularly when erecting the apparatus in the line of pipes. Inall the embodiments the watermeter is shown horizontal and provided withlateral pipes a, d. If desired, it may be arranged above these pipes,and when the water-meter has worked for a fairly long time in onedirection it may be simply turned around and worked in the oppositedirection. Further, in consequence of the symmetrical shape of the diskon the ball this disk is reversible, so that, with regard to the Wear ofthe balls 4 and their sockets or recesses 5, eight differentcombinations are possible when the crank-disk 6 is provided with fourrecesses 5.

Fracture of the balls at is not to be feared even when they are madevery small, because they are stressed materially more favorably than inthe case of pins employed heretofore. The defects formerly connectedwith the transmission of power are hereby entirely obviated.

In the above-described embodiment com prising the pin 13 guided in thegroove 14 the error due to the irregular displacement of the disk 2 whenrolling is not entirely removed. For, as heretofore, the maximumdisplacement will occur in the plane passing through the center of thehall 1 and located at right angles to the plane passing through the wall11 and the center of the disk. In two positions of the disk there arealways two points in this plane in which a. maximum of resistance todisplacement occurs, so that the ball and the conical guides are liableto be worn unevenly. These points are, as it were,

dead centers when the disk rolls.

In order that the total displacement of I provide the faces of the disk2 and the conical faces 15, 16 with teeth 17 and 18,.

respectively, as shown in Figs. 3 to 8 and in Fig. 12. If these teethhave the shape of I waves such that at the crest and in the hollow ofeach wave the teeth of the disk have a small amount of clearancein thewaves of the conical faces (Fig. 5), then the total displacement isdistributed over the entire periphery. The total of the partialdisplacements should be equal to the total displacement.

The views of the teeth shown in Figs. 6 and 7 show that the lower andupper teeth of the disk are displaced half the pitch relatively to oneanother. This displacement of the teeth is necessary because, when thedisk moves, rotation is to take place each time about a constantlyprogressing instantaneous axis, and these instantaneous axes must begenerating lines of the original conical surfaces, in order that steadyrunning may result. It will also be evident from an inspection of Fig.5, that the teeth 17 on either side of the disk are of greater pitchthan the teeth 18 on the cones over which the opposite faces of saiddisk are moved. In consequence of these teeth the movement of the diskis perfectly positive and in this manner I obtain the advantage that amaterially better joint is made between the disk and the cones. Thecause of the moving parts wearing unevenly is removed, and there is muchless danger of these parts fracturing than in water-meters of the typedescribed as known heretofore. 'hen the speed of the meter is low andwhen the quantities of fluid to be metered are small the teeth willconstitute a kind of labyrinth packing (Fig. 5) whereby greater accuracyof measurement is assured in this case, while the joint is always goodat high speeds.

If desired, the teeth 17 of the disk 2 or the teeth 18 of the cones 15,16 of the housing 7, 9 need extend over only a small part of the breadthof the disk and cones, as shown at 17 and 18 in Figs. 4, 7 and 8.Obviously. in all forms of meter having teeth as described above theguide pin 13 will be omitted.

The right-hand part of Fig. 7 shows a modification in which the teethconsist of strips of metal 19 of suitable shape suitably attached to thedisk 2. The teeth of the conical surfaces may be formed in like mannerif desired. In this construction the strength and the elasticity of thedisk is increased. and repairs can be made if the teeth are injured.

In order to prevent wear, the teeth of the disk and those of the conicalsurfaces may be provided with exchangeable points 20, as shown in Fig.5. the same being inserted by means of dovetailed joints or in othersuitable manner.

When large quantities of water are to be measured it is very importantthat the water-meter be exceedingly stable. The crank-disk will requireto be lubricated, which is preferably effected with water when the meteris connected in water-pipes. The form of water-meter shown in Figs. 8and 9 meets these requirements. Instead of the driving ball I this metercomprises a pivot pin 21 which is integral with the crankdisk 6: thispin may be cylindrical or conical and is journaled in a recess 23,preferably lined with white metal 22, in the hollow ball 1. For forminga tight joint between the working chamber and the crankchamber 10. Thepacking 24 and 25 is sub-.

jected to this higher pressure and consequently the moving parts areWell packed.

\Vhen the ball 1 is of large dimensions attention must be paid to thejoint between the partition 11 and the ball 1. In small water-metersthis is not so important. In the meter shown in Figs. 8 and 9 a goodjoint is formed by making the partition 11 hollow and inserting into ita plate 27 which has its inner end cut to a suitable curve and ispressed by a suitable pressure against the ball 1; in this arrangementthe frictional resistances need not be materially increased.

Under certain circumstances it may be preferable to pack the jointbetween the working chamber 10 and the chamber containing the crank-disknot by leather collars 2-1, but by slit rings 28 which are inserted likeelastic piston-rings into suitable grooves cut to receive them, as shownin Figs. 10 and 11. Such packing between the working chamber 10 and thecrank-disk 6 arranged in any of the ways described above enable thecrank to be lubricated with oil. The entrance of lubricating oil intothe metering chamber is sufliciently prevented in this manner.

Particularly the packing shown in Figs. 8 and 9 renders thehereindescribed diskengine or water-meter adapted for metering or forbeing driven by, gases of any desired temperature, if the as is at asufiicient pressure and if a smalI loss of pressure is allowed. Thisconstruction also admits of additional packing at the periphery of thedisk, as shown in Fig. 8, in the form of a piston-ring 29.

At first, when the teeth of the disk and the conical surfaces do notbear against one another, the meter is by no means tight, but as soon asthe movement of the Water is so powerful that the disk begins to rollone or more of the teeth on the two parts contact with one another (Fig.5). because during the rolling motion the disk tends to lag behind, andas soon as the disk moves leakage is stopped and the water-meteraccurately measures the quantity of water passing through it.

In order to make the water-meter watertight at the beginning of themetering operation the ball 1 may be provided wlth a suitable spring 30,e. g. a leaf-spring, which bears against the partition 11, as shown inFig. 12.

The disk is thereby constantly m pressed to the left, so that at leastone tooth of the disk always bears against one tooth on the conicalsurface and forms a tight joint, so that the rolling movement of thedisk begin immediately the water is turned on.

Vhen the movement of the disk is very rapid, as is the case particularlyin currents of gas, the unsymmetrical shape of the disk 2 is a defect.This can be remedied in a simple manner by arranging a second partition31 on the side diametrally opposite the partition 11. The disk 2 willthen have on this side a second recess or slot 32 similar to the recessor slot 12 on the left. The same need not be so broad however. Thecurrent of gas is led through a side channel 33 around the wall 31. Inthis arrangement the disk 2 is perfectly balanced.

As a water-meter made in the above-described manner is no longerdependent in its action with regard to accuracy of movement andmeasurement on the speed, its range of measurement is considerablygreater than that of forms known heretofore. Consequently, the number ofsizes in which the ordinary disk water-meter are generally made at thepresent day can be considerably reduced, so that water boards,engineers, plumbers and others do not require to keep such a largenumber of apparatus and spare parts as heretofore.

As the hereindescribed Water-meters work much more regularly and moreexactly than those known heretofore calibration and testing isconsiderably simplified. Further, in consequence of fewer repairs thelife of the water-meter is materially increased and owing to thesimplification of the water service a considerable saving is obtained.

It may be mentioned, in addition, that the play provided in the teethadmits of the passage through the water-meter of grains of sand and thelike carried along by the current of water without the accurac ofmeasurement being impaired in the slightest and without any injury ofthe water having to be feared.

Instead of being used as a water-meter the described disk-engine can beemployed for measuring any other liquid. e. g. oils, petroleum and thelike, and also gases.

The described engine can also be employed as a pump when it is driven.If the joint formed by the teeth admits of large differences of pressurethe machine can also be employed as a reversible engine driven bycompressed gas, steam or the like. Another sphere of employment for thedescribed machine is that of a fan. In all the modes of employmentseveral machines may be connected in series or in parallel in order towork as compound pumps, motors, fans or the like.

I claim 1. In a disk engine, the combination with a casing having upperand lower toothed conical guiding surfaces, of an equatorial disk havingteeth on opposite sides thereof in mesh with said toothed guidingsurfaces, the teeth in each of said conical guiding surfaces being ofdifferent pitch than the teeth on that side of the equatorial disk whichmeshes therewith.

2. In a disk engine the combination with the casing having upper andlower toothed conical guiding surfaces, of an equatorial disk having onthe two sides the same number of teeth as the conical surfaces, theteeth of these latter and of the disk being however of different pitch.

3. In a disk engine, the combination with a casing having oppositelydisposed toothed conical guiding surfaces, of an equatorial disk havingteeth on opposite faces thereof meshing respectively with said toothedguiding surfaces, the teeth on each face of said equatorial disk beingdisplaced circumferentially with respect to the teeth on the oppositeface of said disk and the pitch of the teeth on each face of said diskbeing differ ent from the pitch of the teeth with which they mesh.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHAN MATHIAS KAREL PENNINK.

\Vitnesses I. A. M. HACKSTROL, WV. R. ATKINSON.

